Spotlight Philippines is an informative blog about everything Filipino - music, lifestyle, entertainment, sports, science, technology, politics, religion, business, history, and local and worldwide news about the nation. It seeks to re-echo current events in and out of the Philippines.

In an emotional report on "State of the Nation with Jessica Soho," GMA News reports Jiggy Manicad and Love Añover reported on the extent of devastation in Leyte, which received the brunt of Typhoon Yolanda's extraordinary force on Friday.

Manicad reported that at least 20 bodies of storm victims, including children, were being kept in a local church because the local funeral parlors had been destroyed. Añover was unable to hold back tears while recounting the terrifying experience of being inside a cathedral as its roof was being torn off by strong winds.

Friday, November 8, 2013

ABS-CBN News reporter Atom Araullo has trended on Twitter after performing a daring coverage of the landfall and devastation of super typhoon Haiyang (Yolanda) in Tacloban City.

For braving the strong winds and immense rains, Atom Araullo became a trending topic on Twitter with the hashtag #GuyInTheRain.

Atom reported live at around 6:40 AM Friday from a street in Tacloban for the ABS-CBN daily AM show Umagang Kay Ganda, (UKG). As he described what was happening in the area in the area, a storm surge was occurring, displacing piles of debris on the streets.

The video of Atom Araullo reporting on Yolanda's landfall in Tacloban is found below.

The video also revealed the ABS-CBN News team sheltered in the second floor of a building where they had a view of the same street Araullo had been reporting just an hour ago which turned to a destructive river of debris - almost knee-high.

A new meme showing a photo of Napoles during her first public hearing has been roaming the social networks as of posting time.

In the photo, Napoles, the alleged mastermind behind the PDAF scam (also known the pork barrel scam), is captured smiling during the Senate hearing on PDAF abuse with a caption "smile smile din pag may crime".

Another video of a Facebook user, Nina Mayor Parrilla, of the extreme winds and rains that Yolanda, internationally known as Haiyan, brought to Ormoc City. The strength of Yolanda is immense and destructive.

Here's another video showing a storm surge that occurred at the height of Yolanda's destruction in Tacloban City, Leyte. In the video, Atom Araullo reports what seems to be a fast-rising flow/entry of water into the downtown area of Tacloban City.

Tacloban City is one of many cities in Eastern Visayas to have been first hit by the super typhoon.

Here are video footages of the destructive winds of Yolanda, internationally named Haiyan, in Tacloban City. Packing sustained winds of 190mph (305km/h) and staggering gusts of 230mph (370km/h), it is said to be one of the most devastating and strongest typhoons in Philippine history.

its "intensity has actually ticked slightly above the maximum to 8.1 on an 8.0 scale."It broke 235 mph.

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Super Typhoon HAIYAN may make landfall on Philippines this Thursday or Friday.

With winds reaching 65 kph near the center, Haiyan is currently out of the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR). It's still within the cone of uncertainty, which makes it not easy for weather forecasters from the PAGASA to predict where the super typhoon will exactly hit first.

Image Source: CNN World

It's been reported that it may possibly reach Southern Luzon and Eastern Visayas if its projected path remains unchanged.

Officials are advising people in Bohol and Cebu to remain updated with the happenings on Super Typhoon Haiyan's move, as many are still recovering from the fatal earthquake which shook the Visayas region last month.

Everyone is advised to be prepared for anything. Stock up on basic needs, but don't panic.

Please disseminate this information and remain optimistic that it will be disoriented in its path, change its course, and spare the Philippines from violent destruction and further loss of life.

I was really amazed when I saw this video showing an abandoned ant colony wherein an ant subterranean structure (yes, a mega ant city) was excavated. With the technique of flushing cement, a team of excavators were able to successfully unveil what the ants (really small geniuses) do underground!

Today will be the first battle for the Miss Universe crown in Moscow (Russia). In tonight's preliminary competition, which Miss Universe candidates will shine?

Watch the Miss Universe live in this blog through the pageant's official website. Some television channels will be covering the Miss Universe pageant. Sites like livestream and ustream may be airing the show.

The Miss Universe beauties gave out their best in a series of events, e.g. runway shows, special events, photoshoots, among others.

The show starts at 8:00 PM (Russian Time). Please take note of the time conversions per country. Here are some links to the Miss Universe pageant.

So, I was browsing photos of the Miss Universe 2013 candidates in their national costumes. It appears that some candidates really portrayed the countries they represent well, while a few made it to my confusion list.

In no particular order, the national costumes of Miss USA, Miss Russia, and Miss Puerto Rico confused me a lot. I didn't really understand how the costumes really reflect their nation's pride.

Meanwhile, those of Miss Sweden, Miss Switzerland, Miss Philippines, Miss Great Britain, Miss Korea, and Miss Thailand were most glamorous and nationalistic. I bet that one of them will win the National Costume award.

It may be remembered that the last time Miss Philippines took the Miss Universe National Costume award was in 2001 when Zorayda Ruth Andam ranked second best in National Costume to Kim Sa-rang of Korea. Also, the Philippines only won that special award once when the country hosted the Miss Universe pageant in 1994 with Charlene Gonzales as representative.

Check out the photos of the Miss Universe 2013 in their national costumes. All photos viewed in this post are credited to the photographer Jory Rivera.

The last photos compared really set the gradient. Here, we see Miss USA in one of the most confusing national costume made. Is this because the USA is one of the most technologically advanced countries in the world? I don't mind seeing the Transformer franchises being represented by her, lol. On the other hand, Miss Trinidad and Tobago is the bomb. She's like a bird or a plant with a class of clashing colors. Her costume is the epitome of fire and ice in the Game of Thrones. Still, no costume outwits that of Miss USA.